Combination gym towel and exercise device cover

ABSTRACT

An equipment cover for protecting exercise equipment from body sweat has a fabric body with a lip containing a drawstring. In use, the drawstring can be tensioned to tighten the cover around the equipment seating. The cover has a moisture-wicking microfiber layer for absorbing sweat and two magnets at distal ends of the towel. An opposing textile layer may be waterproofed. A zippered pouch in the cover allows storage of personal items. The magnets allow the cover to be easily wrapped around and retained about a user so that it may be carried hands-free. Further, the magnets allow the towel to be hung from a steel locker or any other ferromagnetic structure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/848,868 filed May 16, 2019, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the field of exercise equipment of existing art and more specifically relates to equipment covers.

RELATED ART

A significant sanitation concern in gymnasiums concerns body sweat produced during workouts. With the proliferation of complication exercise equipment such as weight benches, body sweat is transferred between users in a public gym constantly. As a result, sanitation conscious users spend a significant amount of time drying and sanitizing gym equipment before and after use. Such procedures are a serious inconvenience and a hindrance to maintaining momentum and maximizing time during workouts. Accordingly, there is seen a need for improving sanitation and reducing time spend cleaning gym equipment.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,925 to Mark G. Hanley relates to a breathable protective seat cover. The described breathable protective seat cover includes a breathable and washable protective seat cover for automobile seats or the like which comprises a multi-layer construction that has been configured to form a pocket at one end that fits over the upper end of the seat and an elongated section that loosely covers the front surfaces of the seat. Layers comprise an absorbent upper layer and a vapor permeable liquid-blocking lower layer. The upper layer wicks moisture away from the occupant and readily releases it through evaporation, the lower layer provides a breathable property while blocking liquid water, sweat, mud, and the like; thereby protecting the underlying upholstery and providing a comfortable seating surface. The seat cover materials and loose fitting geometry facilitates and withstands frequent installation-removal-laundering cycles. The lower polymeric membrane layer additionally provides a rubbery texture that grips the car seat upholstery to prevent movement or bunching of the seat cover when an individual enters the seat. Also, an integral drawcord and toggle closure provides a self-storing mechanism which simplifies packing and transport of the seat cover between uses. This reference is representative of equipment covers in the prior art. There remains a perceived need for an improved solution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known equipment cover art, the present disclosure provides a novel combination gym towel and exercise device cover. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a combination gym towel and exercise device cover.

An equipment cover for protecting exercise equipment from body sweat has an fabric body with a lip containing a drawstring. In use, the drawstring can be tensioned to tighten the cover around the equipment seating. The cover has a moisture-wicking microfiber layer for absorbing sweat and two magnets at distal ends of the towel. An opposing textile layer may be waterproofed. A zippered pouch in the cover allows storage of personal items. The magnets allow the cover to be easily wrapped around and retained about a user so that it may be carried hands-free. Further, the magnets allow the towel to be hung from a steel locker or any other ferromagnetic structure.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a combination gym towel and exercise device cover, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an equipment cover according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the equipment cover of FIG. 1 during an ‘in-use’ condition installed on exercise equipment, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the equipment cover 100 of FIG. 1 lain flat, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the equipment cover 100 of FIG. 1 during an ‘in-use’ condition worn as a towel about a user, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the equipment cover of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to exercise equipment covers and more particularly to a combination gym towel and exercise device cover as used to improve the isolating body sweat from exercise equipment.

The present invention provides the user with a towel-type barrier to be used for bodily fluid left on gym and fitness equipment. This prevents transfer of perspiration from equipment to the body. It easily attaches to gym and fitness equipment. Two distinct sides allow the user to keep track of which side of towel has come into contact with another person's bodily fluid.

The combination gym towel and exercise device cover is a fabric cover device providing a barrier for bodily fluid left on gym machine backrests or benches on one side, and a moisture-wicking surface on the other side. The invention may also include a pocket and a drawstring to prevent the towel from sliding off of gym equipment backrests/bench. The cover device is slipped over the backrest, bench, or front-rest of a gym machine before the user begins the workout. When the workout is done the user may remove the towel and place it on another machine without needing to wipe off either machine because sweat would not be transferred or left behind. The user may also wipe their body of sweat while knowing that side has not come in contact with the machine and can fold the towel into itself once for easy carrying once they are done using it. Exact specifications of cover device may vary upon further development and manufacturing.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-4, various views of a equipment cover 100.

FIG. 1 shows an equipment cover according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, equipment cover 100 may be beneficial for use by a user to isolate body sweat from exercise equipment. As illustrated, equipment cover 100 may include lip 114 surrounding substantially rectangular cover 112 and substantially rectangular panel 180 around mouth 184 (FIG. 5) of pocket 190. The lip may include drawstring 130, which passed through two aperture 118, and may be tensioned to tighten lip 114 around the exercise equipment.

FIG. 2 shows an equipment cover during an ‘in-use’ condition installed on exercise equipment, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, equipment cover 100 may be installed over bench 30 of exercise equipment 20. In use, bench 30 may occupy equipment-pocket 190 (FIG. 1). In a preferred method of use, substantially rectangular cover 112 faces upwardly from bench 30 when installed. Drawstring 130 mat be used to tension equipment cover 100 about bench 30.

FIG. 3 shows a bottom perspective view of the equipment cover 100 of FIG. 1 lain flat, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, equipment cover 100 may include first-magnet 140 and second-magnet 150. Each of first-magnet 140 and second-magnet 150 are embedded in substantially rectangular cover 112 of equipment cover 100. First-magnet 140 and second-magnet 150 may be used to attached equipment cover 100 to a steel lock or other ferromagnetic surface Second-magnet 150 may likewise be embedded in substantially rectangular cover 112. First-magnet and second-magnet 150 are preferably located in two adjacent corners 119 of substantially rectangular cover 112.

FIG. 4 shows equipment cover 100 of FIG. 1 during an ‘in-use’ condition worn as a towel about user 40, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The first-magnet 140 and second-magnet 150 (FIG. 2) may be joined together when equipment cover 100 is wrapped around a waist of user 40.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the equipment cover of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As before, equipment cover 100 may include substantially rectangular cover 112 (FIG. 1), substantially rectangular panel 180, and drawstring 130. Substantially rectangular cover 112 may include textile layer 124 and microfiber layer 126. Likewise, substantially rectangular cover 180 may include textile and microfiber layers in some embodiments. Textile layer 124 may be waterproofed. Substantially rectangular panel 180 may be further characterized by lip 114 and channel 116. Channel 116 may be disposed within lip 114. Channel 116 may terminate at either end in at least one aperture 118. In one embodiment, at least one aperture 118 may be a pair of adjacent apertures. Preferably, apertures 118 are separated from each other by no more than three inches so that drawstring 130 may be conveniently tied together at its ends to tension lip 114. Substantially rectangular cover 112 may be further defined by long-side 120 and short-side 122. In some embodiments, substantially rectangular cover 112 and substantially rectangular panel 180 may be elastic. Drawstring 130 may also be elastic. Drawstring 130 may populate channel 116 from end to end and may exit at either end of channel 116 through two apertures 118.

“Substantially rectangular”, for the purposes of this specification, is used to indicate a geometric shape of material which, when lain flat, has four perpendicularly related edges. Since the components of the cover are constructed of flexible and in some cases elastic fabric, it must be understood that the shape of the elements may not be strictly and rigidly rectangular when the discussed components of the cover are bent, stretched, folded, etc. The use of “substantially rectangular” is not used to disallow the possibility of chamfered and rounded corners, etc.

Drawstring may include cord lock 132 which may retain itself at a position of drawstring 130 and may be used to tension channel 116 about an object such as bench 30 (FIG. 2) of exercise equipment unit 20 (FIG. 2). Drawstring 130 may terminate in two ends. The two ends may be joined together in pull 134. Pull 134 may be a rigid element which can be tugged on by a user to tension drawstring 130 within channel 116. The presence of pull 134 may also prevent drawstring 130 from becoming unthreaded and removed from both cord lock 132 and channel 116, as pull 134 is preferably too large to pass through apertures 118. In some embodiments, apertures 118 may be reinforced by eyelets or other structures to prevent cord lock 132, pull 134, and other externalities from tearing and the fabric which apertures 118 perforate.

Substantially rectangular panel 180 together with rectangular cover 112 forms equipment-pocket 190. Substantially rectangular panel 180 and substantially rectangular cover 112 may be joined (and preferably stitched) along three edges 182 a, 182 b, and 182 c, with the fourth unjoined edge defining mouth 184. Lip 114 makes up the fourth unstitched edge and partially defines mouth 184. Panel 180 is coupled to rectangular cover 112 along three edges 182 a, 182 b, and 182 c. Equipment-pocket 190 has mouth 184 and closed-end 194 opposite mouth 184. Equipment bench 30 (FIG. 2) may be inserted into pocket 190 via mouth 184 and may abut against closed-end 194. As shown, apron 192 of substantially rectangular cover 112 extends past substantially rectangular panel 180, and mouth 184 of equipment-pocket 190 opens towards apron 192 of substantially rectangular cover 112. Mouth 184 of equipment-pocket 190 may be reinforced by lip 114. Lip 114 may be folded and stitched to strengthen mouth 184 and prevent tearing of substantially rectangular panel 180. Equipment cover 100 may also include storage-pocket 160 in substantially rectangular panel 180 and zipper 170. Zipper 170 may be able to open and close storage-pocket 160.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. 

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:
 1. An equipment cover able to cover a bench of an exercise equipment unit, the equipment cover comprising: a substantially rectangular cover defined by a long-side and a short-side, the substantially rectangular cover having a textile layer and a microfiber layer. a substantially rectangular panel coupled to the substantially rectangular cover along three edges, such that the substantially rectangular panel and the substantially rectangular cover in combination form an equipment-pocket into which an equipment bench may insert, the substantially rectangular panel being shorter than the substantially rectangular cover, the substantially rectangular panel being affixed to the substantially rectangular cover along three edges, such that a pouch having a mouth is defined between the substantially rectangular panel and the substantially rectangular cover; a channel circumscribing the mouth of the pouch, the channel terminating at either end in at least one aperture; and a drawstring populating the channel and exiting at either end of the channel through the at least one aperture.
 2. The equipment cover of claim 1, further comprising a pocket in the substantially rectangular panel; and a zipper able to open and alternatively close the pocket.
 3. The equipment cover of claim 1, wherein the at least one aperture consists of two apertures.
 4. The equipment cover of claim 1, further comprising a first-magnet embedded in the substantially rectangular cover; and a second-magnet embedded in the substantially rectangular cover.
 5. The equipment cover of claim 4, wherein the first-magnet and the second-magnet are disposed on adjacent corners of the substantially rectangular cover to each other.
 6. The equipment cover of claim 1, wherein the substantially rectangular cover extends past the substantially rectangular panel into a unitary apron, and the mouth of the pouch opens towards the apron.
 7. The equipment cover of claim 1, wherein the microfiber layer of the substantially rectangular cover faces away from the substantially rectangular panel, and the textile layer of the substantially rectangular cover faces towards the substantially rectangular panel.
 8. The equipment cover of claim 1, wherein the substantially rectangular panel comprises a material selected from the group consisting of microfiber fabric; textile fabric; and a combination of microfiber fabric and textile fabric.
 9. The equipment cover of claim 1, wherein each of the substantially rectangular cover and the substantially rectangular panel are elastic.
 10. The equipment cover of claim 1, wherein the drawstring is elastic.
 11. The equipment cover of claim 1, wherein the textile layer is waterproofed. 